The long-standing community crime prevention program in Williston enlisted the help of a new partner Thursday.

CrimeStoppers of Williston will now be joined by its neighbor McKenzie County.

Williston Police Detective Mark Hanson, president of the Board of CrimeStoppers of Williston and now also of McKenzie County, was joined by McKenzie County Sheriff Ron Rankin and Rita Hovet, dispatch and correctional officer for McKenzie County yesterday at the Law Enforcement Center.

Hanson announced Rankin and Hovet were now members of CrimeStoppers for the Board of CrimeStoppers of Williston and McKenzie County.

"I would like to welcome McKenzie County to the CrimeStoppers Program," Hanson began. "The purpose of this is so we can hopefully receive information from the public to assist us and our agencies in our area in solving crimes that occur in our jurisdictions. It was recently requested from McKenzie County to see if I could assist them in getting a CrimeStoppers program started for their area." Hanson continued, "After discussion with Sheriff Rankin, we decided that maybe it would be a very good idea if we just combined our CrimeStoppers programs. We had a board meeting here in Williston in the recent past where our board overwhelmingly wanted to bring McKenzie County into our program. I did contact Sheriff Rankin and Rita Hovet from McKenzie County. We got together. They were added as board members to their CrimeStoppers Board. I would like to welcome them to the program."

Rankin said joining up the CrimeStoppers program was a great opportunity.

"We've been wanting to do a CrimeStoppers program in McKenzie County for quite a while. We really didn't know who to contact," he said. "Rita made contact with Mark (Hanson). She took the ball and ran with it from there."

"For McKenzie County, it's an excellent opportunity to help the residents with reduction of crime and reporting of crime," Rankin said. "It's just going to be excellent for us. Rita has been instrumental in assisting me through this program for quite a while."

Hovet said when she was assigned this, she first contacted Hanson about how to proceed.

"We first talked about joining our own chapter when Mark mentioned joining together (with the Williston chapter). It was kind of a win-win situation. The two counties work so close together anyway. So, we are very happy to be on board with you," she commented.

Hanson said there are now two tip lines for callers who wish to give authorities information anonymously about a crime committed. Williston's CrimeStopper number is listed at 572-8858.

For McKenzie County CrimeStoppers' line call,

842-TIPS (842-8477).

Hanson said those giving the tips anonymously also may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 if information provided leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the crime. He said CrimeStoppers was initially started in 1981 in Williston.

"It was revived in 2004," Hanson said. "Our program is completely and entirely funded through donations from private individuals or businesses. Any persons or businesses who are willing to donate to the CrimeStoppers of Williston and McKenzie County, could send their donations in care of CrimeStoppers to either the McKenzie County Sheriff's Department or the Williston Police Department, and that money will make the destination for CrimeStoppers."

Hanson said by pooling the two entities' efforts, the CrimeStoppers will be even stronger.

"Information that becomes available to the McKenzie County portion of our program would be forwarded to us," he said. "Also any information that becomes available in the Williston area regarding crimes in the McKenzie County area would make that easier to get that information to the authorities so it could assist them in solving these types of crimes that have occurred in those jurisdictions. I think it is an absolutely wonderful thing to be able to broaden our program to where it will be beneficial to CrimeStoppers in reaching our goals, but also to help the public and to solve the crimes that are in our area."

Rankin said they are in the process of writing up a letter to send out to various businesses in McKenzie County. "Plus, we'll have it put in the McKenzie County Farmer, the local newspaper once our program is up and running, which we expect to be next week," Rankin said.

Hanson said a new logo will be developed to indicate the partnership in CrimeStoppers. The new logo will list both numbers.

Hanson said all funds collected will pool together to support crimes reported in both the Williston area and McKenzie County.

"The only thing different will be the tip line number for Williston and the tip line for number for McKenzie County. Those two will be different, but everything else will be as one," Hanson said. "This is an opportunity for an individual to provide valuable information to assist law enforcement in solving crimes in the area."